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Home , Chiropsalmus, Chrysaora, Cyanea (jellyfish), Medusozoa, Olindias, Phyllorhiza

The nuisance of medusae (, ) to shrimp trawls in central part of southern Brazilian Bight, from the perspective of artisanal fishermen

RENATO M. NAGATA, MARIA A. HADDAD & MIODELI NOGUEIRA JR.

Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil, CEP: 81531-990. Email: [email protected]

Abstract. Large aggregations of medusae hinder trawl fishing in coastal waters of several locations worldwide by clogging nets. In Paraná, scyphozoan medusae reach biomass peaks during springtime, when they saturate shrimp trawl nets. In order to assess possible disturbances to trawling caused by of medusa, 48 fishermen who regularly use fishing trawls from 10 communities in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, were interviewed. The general attitude of the respondents toward was found to be negative. Fishermen associated medusae, particularly the scyphomedusa Lychnorhiza lucerna, with net clogging. Two cubomedusa species, quadrumamus and haplonema, and the hydromedusa sambaquiensis were singled out for the painful stings they cause. Large aggregations of medusae in fisheries shorten the duration of trawl hauls, displace hauls to areas further away from the landing ports and prompt fishermen to shift to other fishing gears such as anchored gillnet and drift net, amongst others. The fishermen hold a body of ethnobiological knowledge about , such as the identification of toxic species and their seasonal occurrence, and have designed gimmicks to prevent medusae from entering the nets.

Key words: Bloom, shrimp, Lychnorhiza lucerna; Olindias sambaquiensis; jellyfish

Resumo. O entrave de medusas (Cnidaria, Medusozoa) aos arrastos de camarões na parte central do embaiamento sul do Brasil, pela perspectiva de pescadores artesanais. Ao entupirem redes de arrasto, grandes populações de macromedusas atrapalham a pesca de arrasto em águas costeiras de vários locais do mundo. No Paraná, as macromedusas , quando atingem os picos de tamanho e biomassa durante a primavera, podem encher completamente redes de arrastos camaroeiros. Para verificar possíveis distúrbios gerados pelas espécies de medusas locais aos arrastos, 48 pescadores atuantes nessa arte de pesca foram entrevistados em 10 comunidades do litoral do Paraná e Santa Catarina. A visão geral dos entrevistados em relação às medusas é negativa. Os pescadores associaram principalmente a cifomedusa Lychnorhiza lucerna ao entupimento de redes. Duas espécies de cubomedusas (Chiropsalmus quadrumamus e Tamoya haplonema) e a hidromedusa Olindias sambaquiensis foram responsabilizadas por dolorosas queimaduras. Grandes agregações de medusas nos locais de pesca diminuem o tempo dos lances de arrastos, deslocam essas operações e causam a evasão para outras artes de pesca como o fundeio e o caceio. Os pescadores detêm um vasto conhecimento etnobiológico sobre as medusas, como o reconhecimento de espécies tóxicas, conhecimento sobre a sazonalidade das ocorrências e artifícios para evitar a entrada de medusas nas redes.

Palavras-chave: Floração, camarão sete-barbas, Lychnorhiza lucerna; Olindias sambaquiensis; zooplâncton gelatinoso

Introduction world and, occasionally, these completely The occurrence of medusa or jellyfish dominate the planktonic biomass (e.g. Pagès et al. (Cnidaria, Medusozoa) in high densities is a 1996, Benovic & Lucic 2001, Mills 2001). Due to common phenomenon in coastal waters around the their large size and the accidents with toxic species,

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 The nuisance of medusae to shrimp trawls from the perspective of artisanal fishermen 313 the presence of jellyfish on beaches and shallow on scyphomedusae is yet to be published. It is coastal waters is readily noticed by the public known, however, that macromedusae such the perception (review in Purcell et al. 2001, Haddad Jr. O. sambaquiensis, the Cubozoa 2002, Purcell et al. 2007, Neves et al. 2007). Chiropsalmus quadrumamus (F. Müller, 1859) and Large medusa aggregations can interfere the three Scyphozoa Lychnorhiza lucerna Haeckel, with fishing activities in two ways: 1) via food 1880, punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 chain, either competing for food with commercial and lactea Eschscholtz, 1829 occur in species (Ishi & Tanaka 2001, Purcell & Sturdvant large numbers in trawl nets, stranded on the beach or 2001, Uye & Ueta 2004; Barz & Hirche 2005) or floating on the water surface (Vannucci, 1951; directly preying upon eggs and larvae of commercial Silveira and Cornelius 2000, Morandini et al. 2005; fishing resources (review in Purcell & Arai 2001); 2) Haddad and Nogueira, 2006; Nogueira and Haddad via clogging of nets, when large numbers of 2006). medusae are caught in a short period, causing On shallow waters (<20 m) of the South stinging accidents (Guest 1959), damaging fishing Brazilian Bight (SBB), small-scale shrimp trawls gear (Brierley et al. 2001) and obstructing or can be filled up with medusae and their biomass displacing local fishing activities (Russell 1970, exceed that of all other groups (Graça-Lopes Brodeur et al. 2002, Uye & Ueta 2004; Kawahara et et al. 2002, Branco and Verani 2006). Recent al. 2006a). investigations on the biology of medusae on the Over the last decades, disturbances of coast of Paraná, comprising more than eight years of fishing operations caused by large medusae appear monthly sampling, revealed that short ten-minute to be correlated with recent population increases trawls could catch dozens of kilograms (Fig.1) of the (Brierley et al. 2001, Brodeur et al. 2002, Uye & scyphomedusa L. lucerna, mainly in springtime Ueta 2004; Kawahara et al. 2006a) and/or with the (Nogueira, Haddad and Nagata unpublished data). In introduction of exotic species (Mills, 2001; Galil and the present study, face-to-face interviews with Zenetus 2002; Graham et al. 2003). Such artisanal fishermen from 10 communities of Paraná disturbances may be much more frequent than and north of Santa Catarina were conducted in order reported in the literature, as remarked by Purcell et to ascertain whether such high scyphomedusae al. (2007). biomass represents a nuisance to shrimp trawls. In Brazil, Mianzan and Guerrero (2000) Only Uye & Ueta (2004) used the same method to reported high biomass of the large hidrozoans report fishery losses caused by gelatinous plankton. Olindias sambaquiensis F. Müller, 1861 and Based on a fishermen poll, these authors analyzed atlantica L. Agassiz, 1850, in Cabo de the increase of Aurelia aurita populations in the Santa Marta upwelling (28ºS), but quantitative data Island Sea of Japan during the last 20 years.

Figure 1. Catch of a small-scale shrimp trawl haul of 15 minutes, with abundance of Lychnorhiza lucerna in Paraná coast, Brazil. Courtesy of Cláudio D. Natividade.

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 314 R. M. NAGATA ET AL.

Despite increased attention given to medusa developed along the Southern Brazilian Bight disturbances to fishing worldwide (e.g. Mills 2001, (SBB), reaching 175 to 190 km width. Along the Kawahara et al. 2006a, Purcell et al. 2007) and the coastline of the States of Paraná and Santa Catarina, great abundance of jellyfish on the Brazilian coast, between the beaches of Pontal do Sul and Itapema which can potentially interfere with fishing do Norte – SC (Fig. 2), local fishermen target more operations, no study has investigated the social and than 70 species of fish and shellfish. The main commercial impacts in Brazil. This paper also fishing resource in the area, however, is the sea-bob documents, for the first time, information on shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Heller, 1862, caught fishermen’s ethnobiological knowledge concerning primarily by bottom trawling carried out by small these gelatinous animals. trawling vessels (Natividade et al. 2004). This practice is limited to ca. 20 km off shore, where Material and Methods depths are 6 meters in average. (Andriguetto-Filho et Study Site. The continental shelf is well al. 2006).

Figure 2. Site of interviewed fishing communities on Paraná and Santa Catarina states. 1- Pontal do Sul; 2 – Atami; 3– Barranco;4- Shangrilá; 5– Ipanema; 6– Praia de Leste; 7- Caieiras; 8- Brejatuba; 9- Barra do Saí; 10- Itapema do Norte.

Data Collection. Standardized time wasted when trawling results in massive questionnaires and open interviews (Table I) were jellyfish captures. When answers to the given to 48 trawl fishermen active in 10 questionnaire suggested the presence of large communities of Paraná and northern Santa Catarina medusae concentrations in the trawls, the following (Fig. 2), over given periods from 2003 to 2004 and information was also gathered: A) references to from 2006 to 2007. The following information was jellyfish as a nuisance to trawls; B) reports of asked in the questionnaire: I) age of the fisherman; accidents caused by toxic species; and C) whether II) time of experience on fishing activities; III) time of hauls was shortened in periods of large whether trawling gear is used exclusively or not; IV) jellyfish abundance. whether they report economic losses caused by For the category of open interviews, 20 local jellyfish; V) whether large numbers of jellyfish expert fishermen, very experienced in the practice of cause an impediment to trawling; and VI) amount of trawl fishing, were recommended by researchers and

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 The nuisance of medusae to shrimp trawls from the perspective of artisanal fishermen 315 members of the communities (Table I). treatments; III) seasonality, occurrence patterns and Formalin-fixed individuals of seven species atypical occurrences; IV) biological aspects of of medusa frequently caught in trawl nets in the area medusae; and V) methods employed to prevent (Lychnorhiza lucerna, , nuisance to trawl caused by large populations of Chrysaora lactea, Chiropsalmus quadrumamus, medusae. Tamoya haplonema F. Muller, 1859, Olindias The data was analyzed according to the sambaquiensis and Rhacostoma atlantica,) were model of union of all individual competences. Every displayed to the fishermen. After observing the piece of information concerning the subject was material, the fishermen were asked the following taken into account, and a quali-quantitative questions about the various species: I) popular treatment of the data was conducted (Marques names and diagnostic characteristics; II) toxicity and 1991).

Table I. Number of fishermen interviewed on each fishing community from Paraná (PR) and north Santa Catarina (SC) coast. Community sampled Standardized interviews Opened interviews Pontal do Sul (PR) 8 4 Atami (PR) 2 1 Barranco (PR) 1 - Shangrilá (PR) 7 6 Ipanema (PR) 1 - Praia de Leste (PR) 7 1 Caieiras (PR) 5 2 Brejatuba (PR) 9 3 Barra do Saí (SC) 7 2 Itapema do Norte (SC) 1 1 Total 48 20

Results Most fishermen (70.8%) claimed financial Standardized interviews with trawl losses caused by high densities of medusae. fishermen. Among the 48 interviewed fishermen, A smaller percentage (29.17%) failed to ages varied from 26 to 70 years (mean of 44, correlate medusae with economic loss, but standard deviation of ± 12.98). Half of them had acknowledged time wasted and regarded been in the fishing trade for more than 30 years and the medusae as natural nuisances to the fishing 22.9% made exclusive use of trawling gear. activity (Table II).

Table II. Answers about the jellyfish effect on fishing, following interviews (n = 48) to fishermen. Questions Yes No Do jellyfish cause economic losses to trawlers? 70,83% 29,17% Have you ever avoided fishing because of the large amount of jellyfish? 58,33% 41,67% Have you ever hurried your return from a fishery because of the large number of 68,75% 31,25% jellyfish?

Among 34 respondents who claimed some changed their regular trawl activities to: I - fishing economic loss, 73.5% reported a concomitant with gill nets (n=17); II - fishing at night, when the scarcity of shrimp in the same period (n=25) and jellyfish move up to the surface (n=10); III - make 58.8% referred to extra fuel expenses to avoid use of gimmicks to reduce the amount of jellyfish medusae aggregations (n=20). Whenever a dramatic during shrimp trawls (n=9); IV - explore other, more amount of large medusae was caught, 29.4% of the distant places such as Superagüi Island (n= 2). respondents (n=10) conveyed that they opened the There was marked similarity in the cod-end, releasing all catches, including the shrimps. following reports from the respondents (n=48): When the same 34 respondents were asked about I – Influence on trawling – A view of what measures they took to mitigate the losses, 25% medusae as pests, a cause of clogging of trawl nets, (n=8) answered none. Those who replied reduction in trawling time and time wasted. affirmatively (75%, n=26) said that they had II - Accidents with toxic species – All

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 316 R. M. NAGATA ET AL. fishermen reported frequent accidents that cause inter-annual fluctuations. They did not report any pain in the arms and trunk, making work extremely recent frequency increase in massive occurrences of arduous. medusae. III - By-catch – Medusae are more abundant V – The duration of hauls - was significantly in trawl nets than in other gears and can take up affected in periods of large amounts of medusae almost all the net space. (Mann-Whitney, Z corrected = -8.47; p < 0.001; IV – Seasonal Occurrence – All respondents n=48), when shorter hauls were performed observed the seasonality of medusae and reported (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Maximum time of hauls performed by fishermen in periods of few medusae and in periods of many medusae (n=48).

Open interviews with local experts. Even with the jellyfish. The characteristics used to define though distinct names were not assigned to all the species and their respective popular names are species displayed, the fishermen showed familiarity summarized in Table III.

Table III. Popular names assigned by fishermen to the local large medusae and characteristics used for identification.

Characteristic according to interviews and frequency Species Common name allocation of this feature. (n =20)

Olindias sambaquiensis água-viva relojinho Yellow radial canals (20) Chrysaora lactea água-viva - água-viva copo Cuboid bell, palmate pedalium very toxic (5) Lychnorhiza lucerna água-viva, bolota, Hemispherical bell and cross-shaped stomach (11) cabeça d’água Tamoya haplonema água-viva Pedalium with a single long tentacle very toxic, called cords (11) Rhacostoma atlantica água-viva Flat bell and consistent mesoglea (1) Phyllorhiza punctata água-viva Brown hemispherical bell with white spots (8)

All species were referred to as “água-viva” atlantica. Some less careful fishermen confused (jellyfish). Other popular names such as medusa or Scyphozoa and Cubozoa species, simply assigning “mãe d`água” were not mentioned. Only O. the name “água-viva” to them all, but such sambaquiensis was recognized by all respondents as generalization was quite infrequent. Phyllorhiza “água-viva relojinho” (little watch jellyfish) or punctata was pointed out as an unknown jellyfish “relojinho”; however, five respondents also gave until the years 2000-2001 by fishermen of Pontal do these same popular names to another species, R. Sul, Caieiras and Brejatuba (n=11; 55%). The

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 The nuisance of medusae to shrimp trawls from the perspective of artisanal fishermen 317 pedalia and tentacles of C. quadrumanus and T. medusae to human skin was consistent with haplonema, known as strings, were singled out as literature. Only three out of 20 respondents stated structures that cause painful stings by 5 and 11 that all species cause stings, while the remaining respondents, respectively. associated toxicity with selected species only Knowledge concerning the toxicity of (Table IV).

Table IV. Trawl fishermen’s knowledge on the toxicity of the species occurring in local trawls and a comparison with records in the literature (Haddad Jr. et al., 2002; Morandini et al. 2005).* Accidents according to the literature. Number of fishermen who attributed Toxicity for humans following Species stings to the species (N=20) literature Olindias sambaquiensis* 20 High Chrysaora lactea 3 Moderate Chiropsalmus quadrumanus* 9 High Lychnorhiza lucerna 3 Low (only at oral arms filaments) Tamoya haplonema* 16 High Rhacostoma atlantica 4 Low Phyllorhiza punctata 3 Low

According to 90% of the respondents of months mentioned in each interview. Thus, (n=18), the peak of large jellyfish abundance occurs when only one month of high jellyfish in late winter to early summer (September to concentrations was reported, a weight of 1 was January). Due to the open character of the attributed to this month; when two months were interviews, some informants reported four months of reported, the weight was 0.5; three months, abundance, while others reported only one. In order mentioned, each one received 0.33; and four months, to equalize the weight of the answers in the analysis, 0.25. Figure 4 shows the frequency of reports for to each answers was attributed a weight of 1 (one), each month of large abundance of medusae, as and this value was then divided by the total number informed by the interviewers.

Figure 4. Periods of greater abundance of jellyfish, as the open interviews (N=18).

Throughout the open interviews, consensual known as “guaruçá” or “maria farinha”, flour mary) biological knowledge emerged spontaneously from in the treatment of stings (N=14; 70%). The the accounts of various informants, highlighting respondents reported the application of a macerate of their knowledge about interactions between medusae this crab over the sting to relieve pain, especially in and fishing: accidents involving children and sea bathers. Some (1) Medusae concentrate on the surface of them stated that it is an effective medicine and during the night and in the bottom during the day they have made use of it in many occasions. This (N=14; 70%). According to the respondents, even information was given by fishermen of all though large numbers of medusae can be seen on the communities and also by local residents not involved water surface at night, they are either rare or absent in fishing activities. in night trawls. (3) Use of gimmicks in the trawl nets to (2) Use of the crab Ocypode quadrata reduce the catch of medusae was reported by 55% of Fabricius 1787 (the Atlantic ghost crab, popularly the respondents (N=11). In order to avoid hauling

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 318 R. M. NAGATA ET AL. medusae, three types of modifications in the trawl and Ferguson, 1990, in the Mediterranean Sea (Galil nets were suggested, all of them reducing the and Zenetus 2002). Some examples of the direct vertical opening of the trawl to force the catch to impact of medusae on trawling fisheries worldwide concentrate in the bottom. They are: I – remove are summarized in Table V. Colonies of the floats from the upper panel of the trawl (reported in bryozoan Membraniporopsis tubigera (Osburn, Atami and Shangrilá); II - remove floats from the 1940) have been clogging trawl nets in southern upper panel and set weights (reported in Pontal do Brazil (Gordon et al. 2006), apparently, in a similar Sul and Itapema do Norte); III – tie a rope between manner to medusae. the upper and lower panels, restricting the opening Dorn (2001) remarks that a trawl fisherman of the mouth (reported in Shangrilá, Brejatuba and controls fuel expenditure by minimizing his transits Barra do Saí). between fishing locations. This behavior is equivalent to that of a predator foraging in his Discussion territory. During the interviews, fishermen reported Standardized interviews with trawl that they can avoid hauling over medusa fishermen. Some authors have briefly documented aggregations by communicating with each other by the presence of high concentrations of medusa in radio or visually, tracing the outline of a medusa trawl catches in Brazil (Vannucci, 1954; Graça- umbrella with hand gestures. In addition, they tend Lopes et al. 2002), but knowledge about the to trawl at different depths to escape the dynamics of small-vessel trawls is still more aggregations. This locomotion between fishing restricted in the area studied. Consequently, several grounds may result in waste of time and fuel. aspects addressed in this paper had not been In the opinion of the respondents, the mentioned in previous contributions (Andriguetto- obliteration of trawl nets by medusae is noticeable in Filho 2003; Chaves et al., 2002; Chaves and Robert the power boost needed for pull of the boat. Also the 2003; Robert and Chaves, 2006; Andriguetto-Filho net tends to float, failing to catch the shrimp as a et al. 2006). demersal species, and the clogging causes a layer of Few respondents use trawling exclusively. water in the front of the mouth, which precludes the Alternative fishing gear can be important in periods catching of other organisms. Consequently, hauls are of large jellyfish aggregations, as for example set- compromised by the reduction in trawling time, nets, which are not compromised by asggregarions. similarly to what was observed by Kraeuter and However, in the Sea of Japan, set-nets failed to Setzler (1975) in the estuaries of Georgia. Along the avoid medusa nuisance (Kawahara et al. 2006a). coast of Paraná, large catches of L. lucerna (>100kg) Medusae reduce the amount of time spent on trawl during 10 to 20 minute trawls either result in a major fishing, as they either make fishermen return sooner waste of time sorting out the catch, or end up with (68.75%), or discourage their activity (58.3%) the entire volume of the trawl being discharged. L. altogether. A behavioral model for the fishing lucerna causes fishing troubles also in the northern daily routine of factory trawlers in the west coast coast of Argentina, in summertime (Schiariti et al. of North America was described by Dorn (2001), 2008). who pointed out some hierarchical levels of Open interviews with local experts. decisions-making such as: 1) go out fishing or Fishermen's knowledge about the toxicity of not; 2) select a patch or fishing ground on different species of medusa was consistent with which to operate. As detected during the interviews, scientific literature. In the Brazilian coast, the these decisions are also relevant to the fishing medusae responsible for the most painful dynamics of the communities studied in this envenomations, two cubozoan and the hydrozoan O. research. When jellyfish are in high concentrations, sambaquiensis, are the only species recorded in trawlers either avoid fishing altogether (58.3%) or accidents with bathers by Haddad Jr. et al. (2002). target other fishing resources by using gillnets Guest (1959), for instance, mentions that C. (35.4%). quadrumanus was a painful obstacle to fishermen of Scyphomedusa blooms also disrupt fisheries, Matagorda Bay in Texas in some years where such as those of Nemopilonema nomurai blooms occur. O. sambaquiensis is regarded as a (Kishinouye 1922) in the Sea of Japan (Kawahara et nuisance to tourism in some regions of Argentina al. 2006a) and nomadica Galil, Spanier, (Mianzan and Zamponi, 1988).

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 The nuisance of medusae to shrimp trawls from the perspective of artisanal fishermen 319 (2002) (2003) (2008) (2001)

k k et al. et al. et al. et al. Schiariti (1951) Vannucci wor Present Brierley Source Source Brodeur Guest (1959) (1975) & Setzler Kraueter Graham wor Present Burst fishing nets. Damage fishing nets. nets. fishing Damage ⁄ ⁄ uisiance to trawling iomass N b - Collapse of pilchard fishery. - Stings to fishermen. fishermen. to - Stings - nets. fishing Clog - Reduction of trawling time. - nets. fishing Clog high as as shrimp comercial to - Losses 10US$ million in 2000. - nets. fishing Clog - Shortenduration theof trawl hauls. further to areas these hauls - Displacing away from the landing ports. - Fishermen temporarilyfishing the shift gears to anchoredgillnet drift andnet. - Clog fishing- Reduce total captures andquality. catch to operate. fishermen - Prevent - nets. fishing Clog shore off move shrimp that cite author - The from aggregation the of jellies. fishermen. to - Stings - Clog - nets. fishing Clog jellyfish high with areas shunned vessels - Fishing -May) r 2000 – Sep) (May Sep-Nov Dec-May Jul-Oct Aug.-Sep. Year (months) Year (months) 1990-1999 (Jun-Sep) 1955 and 1956 Sep) - (Aug 1972 (Ab

t rfering with trawling operations around the world. the around rfering with trawling operations

t orthern Argentina coas orthern Argentina coast amibian Benguela Southern Brazil – – Brazil Southern Local Local America North Bering Sea USA) (Texas, Matagorda Bay Estuaries of Georgia - USA of México Gulf South America coas Brazil Southern N N N Africa Africa

1766Linne, Scyphozoa Scyphozoa

Published reports of cnidarian jellyfish inte reports of cnidarian jellyfish Published

Class ⁄ hyllorhiza punctata ychnorhiza lucerna lucerna ychnorhiza . lucerna Table V. Species P L L melanaster Chrysaora (Brandt, 1835) Scyphozoa Scyphozoa hysoscella Chrysaora Scyphozoa sambaquiensis Olindias Hydrozoa Scyphozoa Scyphozoa Chiropsalmus quadrumanus Cubozoa meleagris meleagris Stomolophus 1862) (L. Agassiz

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 320 R. M. NAGATA ET AL. (2006) (2006) . (1992) et al. (2005) et al Russel (1970) Russel et al. etchaerffNeu & 1940 apud Lotan Galil & Zenetos (2002) & Dawson Daryanabard (2008) Xian & Ueta (2004) Uye UyeShimauchi & (2005) Kawahara Source Source Fossa (1992) Russell (1970) N and industrial fisheries. fisheries. and industrial o remove medusae from the nets. nets. the from medusae remove o t ation Burst fishing nets. Burst fishing nets. Burst fishing nets. ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ g re uisiance to trawling eriod of high biomass. gg - Lower catches of finfish. finfish. of catches - Lower mortality- High ofnematocyst finfish by venom, and lower commercial value. medusae remove labor to - Increased nets. from the risk of capsizing - Higher trawl boats fishermen. to - Stings - Clog N p - Displace hals to other areas. areas. other to hals - Displace weight. the open due to - Cod-end is from the move away fish that think - Fishermen a - Clog - Clog fishing nets. - nets. fishing Clog - nets. fishing Clog biomass. high of periods in operations trawl - Impeding in artisanal catches - Decreased fishes. of zooplanctivorous - Declining catches quality.- Reducing catches fishermen. to - Stings labor - Increased - Damage to fishing gear. gear. fishing to - Damage - nets. fishing Clog - Clog - nets. fishing Clog - Impeding operations trawl in the - t - r

r -Aug r with trawling operations around the world (continued). world (continued). the around with trawling operations ovAp and o available date 2002 – 2006 (Aug-Dec) Year (months) Year (months) Late 1940´s , since 1973 (Oc N N May) May) Ab Since mid 1980´s 1980´s mid Since (Jun-Sep) Since 2004 (May) Summe

t orway of U.K. orth Atlantic Local Local Europe , Fjord Lurefjorden N N of Israel Israel of Asia and of Oman Gulf Persian Gulf China Yangtze Estuary, Seto inland Sea, Japan Along coastJapan of Black Sea Black Sea coas Mediterranean

Scyphozoa

Scyphozoa

Scyphozoa Published reports of cnidarian jellyfish interfering reports of cnidarian jellyfish Published Class ⁄ sp. sp. emopilonema nomurai eriphylla periphylla periphylla eriphylla urelia hizostoma octopus hopilema nomadica autor? urelia Scyphozoa

Table V. Species P A R R A N orsini Crambionella 1888) (Vanhöffen (Perón1810) & Lesueur, Scyphozoa Vanhöffen 1906 Scyphozoa Scyphozoa capillata (Linnaeus, 1758) Scyphozoa

Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences (2009), 4(3): 312-325 The nuisance of medusae to shrimp trawls from the perspective of artisanal fishermen 321

Accidents with fishermen happen during control (Haddad Jr. et al. 2002). sorting of the catch, when urticating substances are Diel vertical migration (DVM) is released from the nematocysts or when they documented for the great majority of zooplankton inadvertently touch certain parts of the animal’s taxa, including medusae (Youngblouth and body, especially the tentacles. Structures such as Blanstedt, 2001; Hays 2003; Sparks et al., 2005). tentacles and pedalia of cubomedusae, especially of Common migration patterns usually involve T. haplonema, called “strings”, are avoided for their individuals staying in deeper regions of the water high toxicity, which is justifiable by the greater column during the day and moving closer to the concentration of nematocysts on those structures water surface at night. This behavior was reported (Arai, 1997). Fishermen interviewed in this study for the medusae by 70% of the respondents and 30% did not associate the abundant L. lucerna with of them pointed out that the ascent to the surface stings, eruptions or pain symptoms, although its oral would be favorable for trawling during the night. arms filaments, when healthy, can cause little pain to The species that display such behavior were not hand human skin (Haddad personal observation). distinguished in the interviews. In the area studied, The absence of tentacles in Rhizostomeae large medusae aggregations have not been recorded scyphozoan medusae, like L. lucerna, generally on the water surface, at least during the day, with the results in reduced stings. However, three species of exception of the zooxanthellate P. punctata (Haddad this same group, Rhopilema hispidum, R. esculentum and Nogueira, 2006). and Nemopilema nomurai, highly exploited for All modifications in the trawl nets, believed human consumption as a delicacy in China, Japan to reduce the intake of jellyfish, are based on the and other Asian countries, have been attributed to fishermen’s perspective about the position of the accidents by fishermen in Japan (Kawahara et al. animals in the water column. According to them, the 2006b). Nematocyst toxins may diminish the market shrimp X. kroyeri is a demersal species, while value or even preclude the commerce of exploitable medusae would be found in mid-water. Thus, upon species (Kawahara et al. 2006a; Purcell et al. 2007). restricting the vertical opening of the trawl net – by The seasonality in the life cycle of large removing the floats, placing weights or bringing the medusae is a widely known phenomenon (Russell upper and lower panels close together with ropes – 1970; Arai 1997) and empiric observations along fewer medusas would be caught and the shrimp decades of trawl fishing provided the respondents catch would not be affected. Contrary to the with knowledge about the temporal fluctuation in respondents' perception of medusae occurring in the medusa biomass. The months of large medusa mid-water position, acoustic surveys in Rio de la biomass peaks indicated by the fishermen (Fig. 4) Plata estuary demonstrated aggregates of L. lucerna are the same cited in the literature of great close to the bottom (Alvarez-Colombo et al. 2003). abundance of the scyphomedusa L. lucerna (Silveira Along the coasts of Paraná and north of Santa and Cornelius 2000; Morandini 2003; Nogueira and Catarina, several trawl nets operating without floats Haddad, unpublished data). This observation have been observed, but other modifications have suggests that trawlers are aware not only of the not. Jellyfish-exclusion devices of the “blubber- periodicity of their target resources, but also of the chute” type (Broadhurst and Kennelly 1996) or other conspicuous elements of fishery. Although the Jellyfish Excluder for Towed Fishing Gear “JET” bathymetric distribution of L. lucerna is not known, (Matsushita and Honda 2006) have been developed aggregations of this species possibly overlap with in Australia and Japan. Such devices, set inside the the occurrence zone of the shrimp X. kroyeri, which trawl net, filter away larger organisms, excluding is limited to a maximum depth of 20 m (Andriguetto them through an exit window in the back of the net. Filho et al. 2006). Many reports on trawl net clogging concern As revealed by the fishery experts, the use of introduced medusae (Galil et al. 1990; Graham et al. a macerate made with the crab Ocypode quadrata is 2003), a fact not observed in this study. The a form of treatment against stings commonly scyphomedusa P. punctata reappeared in the coast practiced by the communities in the coast of Paraná. of Paraná in 2001, occurring in great abundance Fishermen from Cananéia and Guarujá, southern during summer and early autumn (Haddad and coast of São Paulo, make a similar use of it (Sérgio Nogueira 2006). The respondents noticed the Stampar, personal communication). There is no appearance of this species, previously unknown to mention of such treatment for cnidarian’s stings in them (55%), but stated that it does not interfere with the literature. However, an adequate treatment can local trawls, because this scyphomedusa is more be conducted with a cold compress of saltwater or often encountered on the superficial layer of water cold packs, and intramuscularly dipirona for pain (Haddad and Nogueira 2006).

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Large Scyphozoa medusae (around 18 courtesy of Cláudio Dybas Natividade. We species, mainly in the Order Rhizostomeae) are a acknowledge also the fishermen for their valuable culinary delicacy in Southeast Asia, and over a cooperation in this research and fieldwork. thousand of years they have been locally exploited (Omori & Nakano, 2001, Schiariti 2008). The References jellyfish market is steadily increased, particularly in Alvarez-Colombo, G., Mianzan, H. & Madirolas, A. Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia 2003. Acoustic characterization of gelatinous- and China. Commercial catches have increased since plankton aggregations: four case studies from the 1970´s and regularly exceed 300 000 tons⁄year in the Argentine continental shelf. ICES wet weight (Omori and Nakano 2001). Medusae are Journal of Marine Science, 60: 650–657. fished in many places and countries of Southeast Andriguetto-Filho, J. M. 2003. Mudança técnica e o Asia, like Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, processo de diferenciação dos sistemas de Indonesia, Singapore and Myanmar and, more produção pesqueira do Litoral do Paraná, recently, small-scale exploitation has begun in Brasil. Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente Australia, India, Mexico, Turkey and the United 8, 43-58. States (Hsieh et al. 2001). By adding value to jelly Andriguetto-Filho, J. M., Chaves, P. T.C., Santos, C. discards, important benefits to fisheries and & Liberati, S. A. 2006. Diagnóstico da pesca environment may be created. A trawl-clogger, no litoral do estado do Paraná. Pp. 117-140. Stomolophus meleagris (L. Agassiz 1862) in the In: Isaac, V., Martins, A.S., Haimovici, M., coastal waters of U. S. A. is a successful commercial Andriguetto-Filho, J.M. (Eds.). A pesca example (Kraueter and Setzler, 1975, Hsieh, 2001). marinha e estuarina do Brasil no início do Recent investigations on the development of século XXI: Recursos, tecnologias, aspectos jellyfish fisheries in the north of Argentina revealed socioeconômicos e institucionais. Editora that the costs involved in harvesting and processing Universitária - Universidade Federal do Pará, L. lucerna are relatively low (Schiariti, 2008). The Belém, 188 p. seasonal high biomass of this medusa in the south of Arai, M. N. 1997. A functional biology of Brazil and north of Argentina, the world Scyphozoa, Chapmam and Hall, London. requirements to attenuate pressure on individual Barz, K. & Hirche, J.-H., 2005. Seasonal fishing stocks and the increasing demand for this development of scyphozoan medusae and the kind of food products points L. lucerna as a potential predatory impact of Aurelia aurita on the new resource to future sustainable exploration. zooplankton community in the Bornholm According to the results obtained by this Basin (central Baltic Sea). Marine Biology, study, the scyphomedusa L. lucerna is responsible 147: 465–476. for clogging trawl nets in the coast of Paraná due to Benovic, A. & Lucic, B. 2001. Jellyfish outbreaks: its large spring biomass, causing a variety of natural cycle or stress response effect? disturbances to the routine of that fishing gear. The CIESM (Commission Internationale pour hydromedusa O. sambaquiensis and the l’Exploration Scientifique de la mer cubomedusae T. haplonema and C. quadrumamus Méditerranée) Workshop Series, Naples, are the main species responsible for accidents with Italy, 14 : 59–62. fishermen. The records of local knowledge on large Branco, J. O. & Verani, J. R. 2006. Pesca do medusae prompt other studies to evaluate the camarão sete-barbas e sua fauna effectiveness of modifications in trawl nets acompanhante, na Armação do Itapocoroy, suggested by fishermen to exclude medusae. One of Penha, SC. Pp. 153-170. In: Branco, J.O., the most valorous conclusions of this research, Marenzi, A.W.C., (Eds.). Bases ecológicas however, is that fishermen seem to possess para um desenvolvimento sustentável: ethnobiological knowledge that highlights the estudos de caso em Penha, SC. Editora da importance of welcoming their participation in Univalli, Itajaí, 291 p. integrated coastal management plans. Brierley, A. S., Axelsen, B.E., Buecher, E., Sparks, A.J., Boyer, H. & Gibbons, M.J. 2001. Acknowledgements Accoustic observation of jellyfish in We thank Dr. Maurício de Castro Robert, Namibian Benguela. Marine Ecology Dra. Natalia Hanazaki, Dr Luís Amilton Foerster, Progress Series, 210: 55-66. Sara Regina Sampaio and two anonymous reviewers Broadhurst, M. K. & Kennelly, S.J. 1996. Rigid and for critical reading and providing useful suggestions flexible separator panels in trawls that reduce for the manuscript. Jellyfish photograph is a the by-catch of small fish in the Clarence

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Received February 2009 Accepted July 2009 Published online August 2009

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